British Urban Film Festival

About

Established in 2005, the British Urban Film Festival was initially formed to showcase urban independent cinema in the absence of any such state-sponsored activity in the UK. Supported by a board which includes actors, journalists, film critics and filmmakers, BUFF stands out as the only festival of its kind with a triple offering of online, on-air and spectator platforms where filmmakers and scriptwriters are presented with the opportunity to have their work showcased to the largest audience reach possible. Our submissions process allows us to protect free attendance to the public for key festival events. Our connections with broadcasters and distributors mean that we can provide comprehensive PR strategies plus additional support for filmmakers and stakeholders who seek the profile needed to monetise their product. As a publisher-broadcaster our objective is to premiere a minimum of 25 films annually in the UK, celebrating difference and to champion, embrace, disrupt and accurately reflect the changing cultural mass and demographic make-up of the UK as expressed primarily through film.

BUFF is widely regarded as the home of urban film coverage in the UK and our continued work with filmmakers and scriptwriters will help consolidate our reputation and open up more frontiers for audiences, sponsors and other stakeholders.

Rules

• Scripts: must be no less than 20 pages and no more than 90.
• Drama/Documentary Films: must be no less than 40 minutes and no more than 120.
• Short Films and/or Webisodes must be no less than 3 minutes and no more than 60.
• All Music, Spoken Word, Dance & Moving Image videos must be no less than 3 minutes

• Send your film/doc/series/video along with these components to be officially considered for selection:

  • 5 stills
  • 60 second (or less) trailer
  • Hi-res film poster (500 x 500) via wetransfer
  • 50 word synopsis
• Submissions can also be made via Filmfreeway.
• Screening format: DCP

Premiere Requirements

No premiere requirement